SOCCER · 1 year ago

Europe’s Elite: Ranking the Top 10 Stars of Euro 2024

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

10. Jamal Musiala - Germany
The Germans have been mostly forgotten in the leadup to this tournament, and they have largely disappeared from the top of the international stage during the past decade. Still, the tournament is being held in Germany, and if the hosts are to have a surprisingly strong showing, it will be because of young attacker Jamal Musiala. Musiala played at the youth level for England before switching to Germany as a full senior international. He has made 25 appearances for his nation, and the young Bayern Munich star is coming off an excellent domestic campaign. He’ll need to find another level to help lead Germany to a spot deep in the tournament.

Germany Euro 2024 Odds: +430
1. Kylian Mbappe - France
Quite possibly the best player in the world, France star Kylian Mbappe shows up on both the international and domestic stage. Mbappe already has 76 international caps and is the talisman for a French team that will compete in the European Championship. In his 76 caps, Mbappe has 46 official goals with 30 assists and is still only 25 years old. He is capable of sliding to the wing when needed but figures to start up top for France as they look to tackle a group that includes the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland.

Kylian Mbappe odds to win Golden Boot: +470
2. Virgil van Dijk - Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world, and he anchors the Netherlands' back line. Now 32 years old, he is no longer in the middle of his prime, but his form with Liverpool this season suggests he can still carry a team with his defending. The Dutch have to battle France in the group stage, and the early matchup between the French attack and van Dijk’s defense is one of the top ones to watch in this tournament.

Netherlands Odds to Win Euro 2024: +1800
3. Jude Bellingham - England
Remembering that England midfielder Jude Bellingham is still only 20 years old is difficult. He has already accomplished so much, and his career promises to become one of the most memorable midfield careers ever. With Real Madrid, he played a vital role in winning the Champions League and has shown improvement as a goal-scorer. England has several high-profile players, but Bellingham will be one of the first names on the team sheet, and if he shows up in good form, he’ll be a big reason for England’s high hopes.

England Odds to Win 2024 Euros: +300
4. Harry Kane - England
The other talisman for the Three Lions is longtime captain Harry Kane. While he did not secure the trophy he has long searched for, Kane had a tremendous individual season at Bayern Munich. In his first campaign with the German giants, he played 44 games with 44 combined assists and goals. He’s not as quick as he used to be, but he’s still plenty dangerous and has a complete game. He can drop back into the midfield to serve as a distributor just as well as he can finish in the box. He has played 18 games with England in major tournaments and has 12 goals in those last 18 starts.

Harry Kane Odds to Win Golden Boot: +500
5. Theo Hernandez - France
Theo Hernandez is one of the best left-backs in the world, and he serves as both a defensive and offensive weapon for France. He has only 24 international appearances but has quickly shown to be indispensable for Les Bleus on the left side of defense. Hernandez is a capable goal-scorer, but he’s more dangerous as a fullback who can bomb forward and cut the ball into the box for France’s attackers to get shots on goal. On defense, he can lock down the left side, which is critical given the plethora of talented wingers France will need to face if they progress through the tournament.

France Odds to Win 2024 Euro: +340
6. Rodri - Spain
Spain is no longer amid a golden generation and is no longer considered a favorite on the international stage. However, they should not be dismissed, and commanding midfielder Rodri is a significant reason for this. He does not get the headlines that Erling Haaland receives, but he is Manchester City’s most important player. Rodri breaks up play exceptionally well and then turns that possession into ball progression, quickly turning defense into offense. He is versatile, can serve anywhere as an elite box-to-box midfielder, and is truly the engine of La Roja. If Spain is to triumph, it will be because Rodri turns in a spectacular month of performances.

Spains Euro 2024 Odds: +650
7. Kevin de Bruyne - Belgium
Belgium’s time as a legitimate contender to break through and win a major tournament has come and gone, and the golden generation has failed to produce a title. That is not for lack of star power from midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. He is still one of the best creative forces in the world and pulls the string for the Belgian attack. His next appearance with Belgium will put him into triple-digits for his nation, and he has 26 goals to go with 49 assists. While he is no longer quite at his prime, De Bruyne is one of the best players of the entire Premier League era.

Belgium Euro 2024 Odds: +1600
8. Bukayo Saka - England
England needs dynamic wing play to be triumphant and finally breakthrough in a major international tournament, and Bukayo Saka is the most likely candidate to provide it. The right-winger from Arsenal has scored 11 goals in 32 caps for England and provides a critical ability to get behind the defense with his elite pace and take opposing defenders off the dribble. Saka can do that at a level that very few other players can replicate and opens things up for England’s attack with that pace and dribbling ability. This is another chance for England to come out on top, and the Three Lions fans hope they will finally seize one of these opportunities.

England Odds to Win 2024 Euros: +300
9. William Saliba - France
Another Arsenal player in the spotlight is France's central defender, William Saliba. There are no questions about France’s attack. Led by Kylian Mbappe and with weapons galore, the French will score plenty of goals. Whether or not they can stop other elite attacks will determine just how far Les Bleus go in this tournament, and defensive anchor Saliba is an essential member of that unit. Saliba had a stellar 2023-2024 campaign for Arsenal and enters the tournament in great form.
10. Jamal Musiala - Germany
The Germans have been mostly forgotten in the leadup to this tournament, and they have largely disappeared from the top of the international stage during the past decade. Still, the tournament is being held in Germany, and if the hosts are to have a surprisingly strong showing, it will be because of young attacker Jamal Musiala. Musiala played at the youth level for England before switching to Germany as a full senior international. He has made 25 appearances for his nation, and the young Bayern Munich star is coming off an excellent domestic campaign. He’ll need to find another level to help lead Germany to a spot deep in the tournament.

Germany Euro 2024 Odds: +430
1. Kylian Mbappe - France
Quite possibly the best player in the world, France star Kylian Mbappe shows up on both the international and domestic stage. Mbappe already has 76 international caps and is the talisman for a French team that will compete in the European Championship. In his 76 caps, Mbappe has 46 official goals with 30 assists and is still only 25 years old. He is capable of sliding to the wing when needed but figures to start up top for France as they look to tackle a group that includes the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland.

Kylian Mbappe odds to win Golden Boot: +470

Europe’s Elite: Ranking the Top 10 Stars of Euro 2024

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